RelaxingHands.com - Elizabeth A. Hunt, Massage Therapist

Not sure if massage is really for you? Then ask yourself these questions:

Have you been stressed out a little more than normal? If you're serious about getting your life back to normal, or better than normal, then I'm seriously committed to helping you help yourself.

Are you tired of being tired? Are your shoulders, neck, back, legs, or arms aching or painful.? Are you getting all the things you want accomplished? Or are you in too much pain or too tired to do anything?

Are you an athlete training for an upcoming event? Do you work out just to feel good? Are you a weekend athlete? Then maybe you'd like to perform better? Maybe you've noticed you're not getting through the workout as well as in the past, or maybe you just started and are suffering from DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness).

Whatever the situation is, I believe I can help you get out of the everyday rut and back into enjoying life.

And what do you need to do? Take 30 minutes, or an hour, or maybe even 90 minutes out of your busy schedule just for You! All right, I already know your time is precious and an hour seems like a chunk. But think of what you could accomplish without all the aches and pains and stress. One hour a week could let you accomplish ten more projects with all the extra energy you'll have!

Are you convinced? If so, give me a call to schedule a session. If not, read on, or give me a call to talk about your concerns. I'm here to help.

General Psychological and Physical Benefits of Bodywork

Massage relieves stress and its attendant headaches, backaches, anxiety, fatigue and sleeplessness. But bodywork is not only a relief to our physical efforts, or to injury and pain caused by accident or stress, it's also a balancing influence on our lives. We obviously are a nation of educated people who realize our need to keep a healthy body and now we need to be attentive to our need to feel whole and alive. Massage is not just for people who can't handle their pain or for people who feel the need to be pampered. Massage is in actuality therapeutic. Massage is not only the answer to the aching back, it can change our lives for the better.

PSYCHOLOGICAL BENEFITS
- Relieves stress
- Helps relieve depression
- Can improve your state of mind
- Fulfills a universal human need for touch

PHYSICAL BENEFITS
- Relaxes muscles
- Increases circulation
- Reduces swelling
- Relieves pain
- Softens and stretches scars
and decreases adhesions

Stress Is not usually fun. In fact it can b down right miserable. But we need it for learning and personal growth. The most successful and healthiest people are not always those who steer clear of stress but those who learn to manage it.

When in a stressful situation your body has two major ways to react: Fight or Flight. Your nervous system becomes more activated and produces the hormone adrenaline to help prep your body for an emergency. Meanwhile your heart rate increases, your breathing becomes rapid and shallow, your muscles tense up and your digestive system is put on hold.

In theses days the fight-flight response is largely useless. We live fast-paced lives, with major changes around every curve. In addition to that, most stressors are ongoing—financial worries, environment, interpersonal conflicts, work-related, and especially political, government, and worldly issues. Your body and mind receive no signal that they can stop; that your really not in an immediate emergency.

With little or no chance at all to recover, you may find yourself in an endless cycle of pain and you find you can’t relax or unwind. Stress related tension can lead to chronic headaches, shoulder, neck and back pain, which can all produce more stress in themselves! The worry and pain can cause sleepless or restless nights, draining you of energy for the day to come. You might also find the way you used to deal with stress is a new stressor in itself, such as reading or exercising.

As the pressure mounts, the hormones in your blood stream require little or no stress at all to trigger a stress response. You may find that not just actual events but thinking about upcoming events and even memories are stressful. You also may find that you are so depleted of energy that you need the jolt of stress just to keep you going.

In a stress emergency, massage is an easy and painless way to get rid of it. That only requires you to relax and let go. Massage provides immediate soothing strokes to the sensory system allowing a break in the cycle of mental agitation.

Many studies have shown that massage can actually trigger the “relaxation response” which takes your body off of alert and lets the biological process start to restore your physical resources. You may find your heart rate slows down, blood pressure drops, deeper and slower breathing begins and tense muscles relax. As your hormones balance it creates a deep sense of relaxation.

When your body is running on empty, massage can help recharge and get you going again so that you may successfully accomplish all you want to.

Release Muscle Tension
Massage can relieve painful muscle tension that can sap your energy dry by using kneading and stretching to loosen muscle ligaments and connective tissue, or using trigger points (pressure applied to known areas that can cause pain). Though a treatment session cannot "cure" you in one visit, it will give your body a break and stimulate the release of endorphins that are known to be the body's natural pain killer. Also, studies have shown that spaced and frequent treatments could reverse the damage of chronic muscle tension.

Increased Circulation
Massage may increase circulation by clearing out toxins of stress hormones and other cellular debris, and replacing it with fresh blood and oxygen—the nutrients your body needs to repair itself. A short term increase of oxygen to the brain may reduce mental fatigue, improving your ability to concentrate. As the nutrients are brought in and toxins flushed out, you may find relief from emotional problems as well, such as anxiety and depression, along with a sense of renewed optimism which can last for days.

Improved Sleep
The quality of sleep generally improves right after or a couple of days following a massage. Without past stress and muscle tension your body is allowed to rest, letting you sleep and recover.

Psychological Effect
Massage gives you a feeling of control over the ills in your life. Just knowing you can take care of yourself in such a positive manner is beneficial.

Learning to Relax
Massage gives you an opportunity to relax, and once you relax you can remember that feeling and take yourself back to that feeling. It also provides you with self-awareness, so you can notice the signs and stop stress before it happens.

Massage knows no age limits. It works wonders on young, old, and in between. It can be especially helpful to the elderly who are experiencing the physical effects of aging which can include: thinner and drier skin, reduced tissue elasticity, loss of mobility, slower nervous system response, decreased bone mass, sleeplessness, constipation, and a less efficient immune system.

Massage helps keep the body and mind functioning optimally by promoting well nourished and healthy skin, improving circulation of blood and lymph, improving immune system functioning, improving energy flow, enhancing general relaxation, reducing muscular tension and associated discomfort, reducing anxiety, improving sleep, increasing feelings of well-being, enhancing flexibility and strength, increasing range of motion in joints, reducing discomfort from arthritis.

Besides the physical benefits of massage, the elderly can experience a connectedness with the therapist that provides the healthy, caring touch that can be missing from the lives of older adults. The loss of friends and loved ones that comes with the elder years can cause stress and anxiety that are alleviated by the therapeutic massage.

Craniosacral Therapy Via a gentle, non-invasive manipulative technique, this therapy encourages your own natural mechanisms to improve the functioning of your brain and spinal cord to dissipate the negative effects of stress, promote good health, and enhance resistance to disease.

Deep Tissue Massage Deep Tissue Massage is used to release chronic muscle tension through slower strokes and more direct pressure or friction applied across the grain of the muscles. This invigorating experience is a process of detection of stiff or painful areas by determining the quality and texture of the deeper layers of musculature, and slowly working into the deep layers of muscle tissue. Specific hand positions and strokes are then used to respond to various tissue qualities. Techniques employing breath and movement are also used for releasing muscular congestion.

Esalen Massage is Swedish massage combined with the influence of early Esalen leaders, Charlotte Selver and Bernie Gunther who taught sensory reawakening. What sets Esalen Massage apart from other types of massage is the philosophical approach. For the massage therapist, the work is a meditation, a time to quiet the mind, and attend to his or her intuition, and to be fully present in the moment with the client.

Erotic massage is really a sexual foreplay technique, rather than a form of massage. Massage focuses on muscles, whereas erotic massage focuses primarily on skin. It's been said that 95% of erotic (or sensual) massage is the same as other massage. This is not an accepted form of bodywork and therefore not something that you should expect from a Registered MT.

Jin Shin Do (transl. the way of the compassionate spirit) is derived from acupressure. The technique involves applying gentle fingertip pressure to thirty specific points along the body to release, smooth and balance vital `chi' energy. Practitioners meditate and try to transfer chi to clients by using knowledge of where energy flows and patterns meet. According to its practitioners, Jin Shin Do pervades all aspects of our being by affecting general muscle tension, improving circulation, balancing emotions and raising the spiritual state of being.

Hakomi method is a body-based psychotherapy using special states of consciousness to help clients probe non-verbal levels where core beliefs direct and influence their experiences. Body-mind awareness and touch are used to explore the body as a deep source of information, empowering the client to change their attitudes.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage This healing technique has become a popular massage choice. It blends soothing, gentle, rhythmical, precise massage-like movements to accelerate the flow of lymphatic fluid in the body.

Myofascial release is used to evaluate and treat restrictions in the body's contractile connective tissues (muscles) and non-contractile supportive connective tissues (fascia) by the application of gentle traction, pressures and positioning. Fascia is a complex supportive web throughout the body affecting all components of the musculoskeletal, nervous and visceral (organ) systems. It surrounds groups of muscle fibres, and entire muscle groups and organs. Myofascial release techniques are used to coax muscles in spasm to relax, and break adhesions in the fascia. Bodies respond to these therapies by releasing tension that has been stored in the fascia, thus allowing more functional flexibility and mobility of the muscles, fascia and associated structures.

Neuromuscular therapy uses advanced concepts in pressure therapy to break the stress-tension-pain cycle. It aims to relax muscle so that circulation can increase and the body will return to normal neuromuscular integrity and balance. The St. John Method is a type of NMT.

On-site or chair massage is one name for a short (15-20 minute) massage of a client sitting in a special, portable massage chair. The client remains fully clothed and no oils are used while their shoulders, neck, upper back, head and arms are massaged. On-Site is popular at some offices as an employee benefit and for some conferences, workshops and certain social events.

Pfrimmer Deep Muscle Therapy Pfrimmer deep muscle therapy was developed by Therese Pfrimmer. Once partially paralysed, she overcame her disability through deep muscle manipulation and spent the next 30 years developing this technique. Pfrimmer Deep Muscle Therapy works across the muscles manipulating deep tissues, stimulating circulation and regenerating lymphatic flow, thus promoting detoxification and oxygenation of stagnant tissues.

Polarity therapy is a holistic approach to natural health care. It asserts that energy fields exist everywhere in nature, and that the flow and balance of this energy in the human body is the underlying foundation of health. Stress, tension, pain, inflexible thinking, and environmental stimuli are among many factors that can contribute to the restriction of this energy flow in the human body. According to Polarity therapists, such energy blocks can be released by the use of four therapeutic methods: bodywork, diet, exercise and self-awareness.

Reiki During Reiki, which means"universal life-force energy," the "healer" becomes a channeler of universal energy. The treatment follows a traditional pattern of hand positions resting on the body without pressure. Reiki is pure energy, and brings about deep relaxation and healing.

Rolfing by Dr. Ida Rolf, aligns the major body segments through deep manipulation of the fascia or connective tissue.
Shiatsu is a system based on the body's energy meridians. Shiatsu massages are normally done fully clothed and involve pressing points on the body and stretching and opening of the energy meridians. Shiatsu is somewhat related to acupuncture, which is a form of anaesthesia and therapy used in Chinese hospitals for surgery. Its proponents view it as a form of treatment alternative to medicine or surgery.

Sports Massage is used primarily for the serious athlete who trains continuously. It focuses on the muscles relevant to the particular athletic activity. It also an include pre-event, post-event and maintenance techniques that promote greater athletic endurance and performance, lessen chances of injury and reduce recovery time.

Swedish massage (which is a proper name, not a reference to Sweden) refers to a collection of techniques designed primarily to relax muscles by applying pressure to them against deeper muscles and bones, and rubbing in the same direction as the flow of blood returning to the heart. The lymph system and veins (which carry blood back to the heart) both rely on muscle action, rather than heart pump pressure, to operate. Many believe it is safe to apply light pressure in the opposite direction. Friction is reduced by oil, or lacking that baby powder. Some practitioners claim benefits from vegetable rather than mineral oil while others disagree. Swedish massage can relax muscles, increase circulation, remove metabolic waste products, help the recipient obtain a feeling of connectedness, a better awareness of their body and the way they use and position it. The strokes and manipulations of Swedish Massage are each conceived as having a specific therapeutic benefit. One of the primary goals of Swedish Massage is to speed venous return from the extremities. Swedish Massage shortens recovery time from muscular strain by flushing the tissue of lactic acid, uric acid and other metabolic wastes. It improves circulation without increasing heart load. It stretches the ligaments and tendons, keeping them supple. Swedish Massage also stimulates the skin and nervous system while at the same time relaxing the nerves themselves. As it can help reduce emotional and physical stress it is often recommended as part of a regular programme for stress management. It also has specific clinical uses in a medical or remedial therapy.

Trager Psychophysical Integration (usually just called Trager) uses light, gentle, non-intrusive movements to facilitate the release of deep-seated physical and mental patterns. Each part of the client's body is moved rhythmically so that the recipient experiences the possibility of moving lightly, effortlessly, and freely on their own. A Trager session should help reduce stress from chronic tension, teach more effective ways to recover from stressful situations, enhance conscious awareness and flexibility, improve self-image, expand energy, restore free flowing movement and full self-expression by reducing constriction and rigidity. A Trager session can bring about the experience of peace and serenity -- a high-energy stateof well-being beyond relaxation.

Trigger point and Myotherapy are pain-relief techniques to alleviate muscle spasms and cramping. The therapist locates and deactivates `trigger points', which are often tender areas where muscles have been damaged or acquired a re-occuring spasm or `kink' that worsens painfully when aggravated. The major goals are to reduce spasm inducing new blood flow into the affected area. The spasms are partly maintained by nervous system feedback (pain-spasm-pain) cycle. Spasms also physically reduce blood flow to the trigger point area (ischemia), reducing oxygen supplied to the tissues and increasing the spasm. Pressure is applied to trigger points, for a short time (between about 7 to 10 seconds per point), which can be momentarily painful but is greatly relieving. Myotherapy aims to erase pain and soothe tightened muscles. People with acute or chronic muscle tension and the associated pain are likely to benefit greatly from this type of treatment.

Watsu - Water Shiatsu is where a therapist floats you in a warm pool, the crook of an elbow under your neck, a hand under your sacrum, a gentle rock, a gradual swaying stretching you from side to side, a rolling of your spine looser and looser...And while one leg is lifted and rotated your other stretches out as you are swirled through the water...moments of activity flow into moments of quiet. The therapist applies the stretches and movements of Zen Shiatsu while your body is floating in water. The water allows for movement that is not possible on a conventional massage table.

Ear Coning and Its Benefits

If you’d like to get through the cold and flu season without a hint of sinus pressure, then you’d better get your ears cleaned out! That’s right your ears!! Do you think your ears are clean now? Wait 'til you try Ear Coning/Candling. It's my newest service that has people talking, and will really have you "hearing things"!

Ear coning (candling) is an ancient treatment. It uses a hollow candle made of bees wax or paraffin. The outside is light and smoke is drawn out from the bottom. The candle is then inserted into the ear. The swirling smoke draws out wax, yeast and other toxins hidden in the ear canal and chambers. It is a very relaxing treatment and great for little kids, and those who suffer from sinuses, and yeast disorders, and those who have lost some hearing in the past.

Ear coning (candling) results from experiences, responses of clients and researchers indicate the effectiveness in the following areas:

Removal of ear wax from the ear canal (including amounts impacted deep in the ear)
Detoxification of the sinuses resulting in relief from sinus headaches and impaction of sinuses
Detoxification of the musculature system with resultant structural benefits
Detoxification of the lymphatic and circulatory systems
Detoxification of heavy metals, mercury from silver fillings and chemical poisonings
Improves sense of smell, taste, eyesight, color perception and musical appreciation
Facilitates sharper mental functioning
Draws out Candida (yeast), fungus, mold, fat globules, mucus, worms, chaff, parasites, viruses, bacteria, residue from past yeast infections, residues of old medicine and/or recreational drugs
Draws out crystallized protein waste matter created from Candida (yeast), fungus, worms and parasites that have accumulated in the nerve endings of the ear
Helps eliminate ear pain, ringing in the ears and headaches
Corrects ear fluid imbalances causing dizziness, nausea and loss of balance
Drains fluid from cysts and watery sacs
Draws excess fluid from inner ear and middle ear, giving relief from acute and/or chronic ear infection
Reduction of associate Eustachian tube inflammation and obstruction
Stops chronic coughing caused by impacted ear wax pushing against a nerve in the ear canal which stimulates the coughing reflex
Reverses partial or total hearing loss even after many years
Stimulates improvement of sound range acuity and depth
Aids in the relief from bladder and kidney infections
Aids in the relief of athlete's foot and other fungal skin eruptions
Gives relief from swimmer's ear, sensation of vertigo (imbalance), ear popping and the "echo chamber" sensation in the head
Improvement in your personality, enabling an overall sense of well-being

What is an Onsite Chair Massage?
Onsite Chair Massage brings therapeutic massage to your place of business. The therapist provides a specially designed chair and a session lasts anywhere from about 5-30 minutes. There is no oil or lotion used except for maybe arms and hands. The massage is done with the client fully clothed and concentrates on the shoulders, neck, arms, hands, and back. Feet and legs can be worked on at special request. This Massage is done generally on the client's break time, and leaves the client relaxed and rejuvenated and ready to return to work.

What do I have to do and provide?
There are three simple steps to set up the program:

What are the costs and how are they managed?
There are many options, and onsite chair massage is one of the most affordable types of massage because it's a shorter duration for each person and more people get a chance to participate without having to leave work. There is no up front investment in equipment or supplies.

How does it compare to other wellness programs?
Generally it’s more convenient than most other programs. There is no need for the person to change clothes, shower or leave work. The results are immediate. Most health programs take months to show results. It’s easy and safe—you don’t need to be a fitness pro to reap the benefits of massage. And people just simply enjoy it! It can also avoid two common problems—spending more selling a program than the program itself costs, and then having it used by people who don’t really need it any way. Massage also creates enthusiasm for better steps to wellness, change of diet and exercise as well as maybe emotional and psychological help. Massage helps people feel better and motivates them, providing you with better results in the workplace, less iritable (or iritating) employees and fewer sick days. It’s also a great way to show how much you value your employees and team. Provide more than a job and a check. Go beyond illness benefits, show you care about their health and wellness!

The following is found in the brochure “Onsite seated massage for the workplace.” (Copyright 1997 by Information for People.) Some of you may have received this brochure, some may not. But I thought people should really know theses stats.

"Stress on or off the job cost US workplaces an estimated $200 billion a year in reduced productivity, accidents, compensation claims, absenteeism, employee turnover, health insurance, and medical expenses. This is more than after-tax profits of the Fortune 500 companies and 10 times the cost of all strikes combined."

The term "fibromyalgia" is derived from three components: "fibro" meaning fiber or fibrous, "myo" meaning muscles, and "algia" meaning pain. Fibromyalgia is basically a constant, all over pain, felt in the body for more than three months. Now just because you have had pain for over three months doesn't necessarily mean you have fibromyaglia. It is generally tested like this: There are certain points, about 18 of them, that when pressure is applied are very painful. If a person has 11 or more of theses tender point then they usually are diagnosed to have fibromyalgia.

About 4% of the population, if not more nowadays, has been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and its symptoms. While many have the symptoms but have not been diagnosed, or have possibly been diagnosed incorrectly. And yet thousands more have simply been told there is nothing wrong with them and they are making it all up.

Fibromyalgia can creep up or come suddenly. There isn’t yet an identified cause, however, studies have shown that traumatic incidents such as physical or emotional traumas can cause the onset of it.

Constant pain and fatigue are probably on the top of your concern list daily if you suffer from fibromyalgia. These also can cause depression, make a person anxious, and aggravate your sensation to pain even more. Add this to the complaint of frequent headaches, trouble concentrating, and insomnia and no wonder you feel like the world is on your shoulders.

Massage can help lighten that load by providing a brief break in the pain cycle, and stress of living. It can also help you sleep a little better at night, as well as providing you with emotional support, and exercise support. Your therapist can also teach you how to breathe when you feel the onset of symptoms occurring so that you can feel in control of the situation.

Make sure you communicate with your therapist about your symptoms. Some days you may feel good and other days not so good. You may need deep pressure at times, and sometimes you may just need to relax. Let your therapist know so that you get the most out of your massage session.

Over 10 million Americans suffer from TMJD (Tempromandibluar Joint Dysfunction). Have you recently experienced facial pain in the jaw while talking or chewing? Have you been hearing a clicking or popping sound when you move your jaw side to side? Maybe your ears have been ringing a lot more or maybe you can never seem to get rid of that sore throat? And why does it seem your shoulders are always so tight and you constantly have headaches?

If you answered "yes" to many of these questions you may have TMJD. Visit your dentist and he or she will probably run various tests and in severe cases provide you with a splint or brace to put your jaw into place.

TMJD can be caused by many different things, however, the most common is some form of physical trauma such as whiplash. Other causes may be the tendency to grind or clench your jaw when stressed or sleeping. Your posture can also play a role. Many of the neck and shoulder muscles start or end near the structures of the cranium and can cause headaches or dizziness, poor posture and tightness in the jaw. This can aggravate and cause stress on the surrounding muscles of the face and jaw causing it to shift out of place and be painful. Some other symptoms you may notice are dizziness, frequent shoulder and back pain, as well as headaches which lead to psychological or physiological stress.

Massage can help.
The most common form of TMJD is Myofascial Pain, that is pain in the muscle (myo) and connective tissue (fascial). By receiving massage it takes your mind off the pain giving you a chance to relax. Massage can help release this tension of the joints in the jaw, as well as shoulders and back, that can commonly aggravate TMJD. By relaxing the shoulder and back muscles this can help your posture which can contribute to the TMJD as well. By using various stretches the therapist can lessen the building of adhesions are bring back range of motion to your jaw. If your Doctor decides you need a splint or jaw repositioner, massage beforehand can help relax the muscle so that a proper fit can be made. Talk to your dentist and see if massage is OK for you. Sometime you may even be able to get a prescription. If an auto accident was involved, insurance may cover the treatment.